Carolyn Saft
UF/IFAS Suwannee County Extension
Contributor
Our stores are filled with heart-shaped boxes of chocolates sold as symbols of love. Are they though? One piece of chocolate is about 75 calories, which would require a good 20-minute ride on the exercycle. Eat three pieces and now you have an hour invested to avoid weight gain. So, we think maybe flowers would be better. A dozen roses is a romantic gesture and will add cheer for about two weeks. But, sadly, they die and we are left with something for the compost pile.
Hmmm...how about a live plant? Yes! And with a little care it will keep growing for years. Many people cherish the plants that are passed down through the family. My co-worker, Amanda, talks about her Grammy’s crinum lilies that are now thriving in her own yard. Another co-worker, Michelle, brought her father-in-law’s staghorn ferns all the way from Naples to her new house in Live Oak.
Plants can bring us fond memories of relatives, friends and neighbors. They remind us of special places and bring us back to childhood memories. I remember spending summers in Hiawassee, Ga., where my great aunt’s windowsills were lined with African violets. I think of her when I see African violets in the stores. And what about those childhood trees that grew as we did?
We have so many options to choose from—we can give a tree (that provides oxygen and shade), flowering perennials (that draw in beautiful butterflies) and pollinators (that come in many different shapes and colors).
Orchids are an exotic option that can provide our loved ones with flowers for years. I have an orchid that belonged to my grandfather that is now 43-years-old. With each bloom, I am reminded of what a kind, thoughtful man he was. Now that is LOVE!
Orchids are easier to grow than most people think. Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) thrive on windowsills and lady slippers (Paphiopedilum) are happy growing in low light. Dancing ladies (Oncidium) are easy to grow but need more light, so would be a good option for the porch or patio or under a tree and jewel orchids (Ludisia discolor) are also good options for a windowsill or porch.
We will be hosting an orchid workshop at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center in Live Oak on Tuesday, Feb. 15 and will cover the basics of growing orchids and offer tips of the trade (my parents owned and operated an orchid nursery for over 20 years). The workshop is free, but pre-registration on Eventbrite is required. Pre-register at https://you_can_grow_orchids.eventbrite.com.
There are so many plant choices available to show your love and please remember to support your local nursery or garden center. And as our Master Gardener Volunteers say, “you can never have too many!”